State News

250,000 Michigan voters will be receiving applications to serve on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. A random name draw was held yesterday in Lansing. It’s part of the process established when voters approved the independent redistricting process last November. The law actually requires that only 10,000 random applications be released. …

Michigan’s first recreational marijuana licenses have been issued. Tuesday, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency awarded license number one to Exclusive Brands of Ann Arbor. Exclusive Brands already produces marijuana for the medical market. Its new licenses will allow it to grow up to 1,500 plants, and process marijuana into other products, …

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is spending the week in Israel, hoping to strengthen Michigan’s ties with that nation. Whitmer will visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Her schedule includes meetings with governmental and economic leaders, stops at General Motors and Ford Motor Company facilities, and an appearance at the Water Technology …

Michigan is ramping up its war on illegal robocalls. Attorney General Dana Nessel and a group of public and private partners announced the effort Friday. Nessel says the state will provide additional education to consumers about how to protect themselves. New legislation to limit robocalls will be introduced, and enforcement …

Could charging tolls on some Michigan roadways and bridges help resolve our highway funding problem? The state Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently forwarded a bill that would require an investigation. MDOT senior policy analyst Aarne Frobom doesn’t doubt that the tolls could bring in money… Speaking on the …

Flags at Michigan government facilities will fly at half-staff again tomorrow, to honor another serviceman who gave his life for our country many years ago. Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the order on behalf of Army Private Connie Cagle. Cagle was killed on the island of New Guinea in 1942. His …

Officials from three other states have filed a court argument supporting Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessell’s legal attempt to shut down the Enbridge Line Five Pipeline at the Straits of Mackinac. Nessell’s lawsuit maintains the original 1953 easement that allowed the pipeline to be built was improper, thus making the …

Flags will be flying at half staff in Michigan today to honor a soldier who died in the Korean War. Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave the order to pay tribute to Sergeant Walter Tobin, Jr. Tobin was a 22-year-old infantryman in 1950 when his unit was attacked near the Chosin Reservoir. …

Michigan drivers will begin to see savings on the car insurance premiums beginning next summer. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is reducing its annual assessment from $220 per vehicle to $100 per vehicle. And, because of Michigan’s revised auto insurance policies, only drivers who choose to maintain unlimited lifetime personal …

Michigan lawmakers will head to deer camp, leaving the victims of their budget manipulations to wait until probably at least December for relief. The State House scrapped a session scheduled for today that could have afforded a last-minute vote to resolve the budget crisis. The impasse began six weeks ago, …